It's the time of year for an Easter egg hunt - and you can go on one without leaving your front door thanks to Google Maps. The online resource is full of funny quirks, with much fun to be had hunting them out.
Known as 'Easter eggs', these reference famous people and characters from popular culture that have captured the attention of enthusiastic users who love to scour the app. To get you started, The Daily Star has found a few hidden goodies....
Loch Ness Monster
Looking over Loch Ness in Scotland, those hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary creature known as Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. Hovering above the loch, the pegman will change to the Loch Ness monster, donning a traditionally Scottish tartan hat.
However, this isn't the only time the beast has appeared on the map. In 2015, it offered members of the public directions by hitching a ride on Nessie's back. It was deemed the fastest way to make the 17-mile journey from one end of Loch Ness to the other.
Pac-Man
Hidden in the desert, north of Las Vegas, is a peculiarly shaped piece of land that resembles the beloved arcade game character, Pac-Man. The game was originally released in 1980 and is one of the longest-running video game series of all time.
It was also regarded as one of the most famous from the golden age of arcade gaming, leading to all kinds of fan tributes from across the world. However, it is not known whether the Google Earth view was deliberately created to look like the character, but the similarities aren't easy to ignore.
The Queen
When users search to look at Buckingham Palace, Balmoral or Windsor Castle they will find that the iconic yellow Street View 'pegman' becomes a cartoon of Queen Elizabeth II. The figure was first spotted last year as several Reddit users expressed their admiration for the hidden feature. Reports say that Buckingham Palace isn't the only location where the Queen appears as it also becomes the monarch at Balmoral and Windsor Castle.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who fans can also step into the Doctor's Tardis on a busy London street which is a long-forgotten Easter egg from almost 10 years ago. The Whovian posted a screenshot of the famous blue police box from Earls Court road to Reddit, writing: "Random TARDIS in the middle of London (Why does this look so similar to the TARDIS easter egg )."
In 2013, it was discovered that on Google Maps users could click on an arrow to enter the blue box and take a look around the control room - and the feature still works today! Fans can explore a full 360-degree view of the replica of the set created for Matt Smith in his role as the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor as the Tardis "redecorated."
UFOs at Area 51
Google Maps users searching for the infamous military headquarters, Area 51, will be able to see a UFO on the app. However, it won't be the type they're hoping for as the pegman will have found himself a flying saucer to zoom around in above the uninspiring location, 'Homey Airport, Closed.'
To get the pegman to change, you must drag him above the area and he will start whizzing around with your mouse. But obviously, the Street View feature won't work in the highly classified location.
